DiscoverScience on Player FM843: Breaking Down the Mysteries of Digestion in Animals With Unusual Diets - Dr. Donovan German - People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers
843: Breaking Down the Mysteries of Digestion in Animals With Unusual Diets - Dr. Donovan German - People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers

843: Breaking Down the Mysteries of Digestion in Animals With Unusual Diets - Dr. Donovan German - People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers

Update: 2025-12-15
Share

Description

Dr. Donovan German is Associate Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of California, Irvine. Donovan aims to better understand how materials move through the gut, which enzymes are secreted during digestion, what microbes are present, and what role these microbes play. In particular, Donovan focuses his research on animals with unusual diets, such as fish that eat wood or algae, to understand how these foods are digested and how animals can survive on these lower quality foods. Beyond his interests in science, Donovan loves sports and music. He played football through college, and he now enjoys coaching his kids' baseball and soccer teams. Donovan played bass in a band during college, and he also plays the guitar and drums. Donovan received his B.A. in Marine Science from the University of San Diego, his M.S. In Biology from California State University in Fullerton, and his Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Florida. Afterwards, he conducted postdoctoral research at UC, Irvine before joining the faculty there in 2011. Donovan's awards and honors include receipt of the UC President's Postdoctoral Fellowship, the UCI School of Biological Sciences Dean's Award for Postdoctoral Excellence, and the UCI School of Biological Sciences Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Fostering Undergraduate Research. In our interview Donovan shares more about his life and science.

Comments 
In Channel
loading
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

843: Breaking Down the Mysteries of Digestion in Animals With Unusual Diets - Dr. Donovan German - People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers

843: Breaking Down the Mysteries of Digestion in Animals With Unusual Diets - Dr. Donovan German - People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers